Saturday, 25 October 2014

Since the last live blog between Carolina and Winnipeg was so popular, it's time to diversify and actually watch two good teams play the game of hockey. As you may remember, Chicago ended St. Louis' season last year in the opening round of the playoffs, and I'm sure the Blues want to punish their divisional foes if they can. Kane, Toews, Sharp, Keith, and the rest of the Blackhawks travel to St. Louis for tonight's game against the Blues. Live blogging starts shortly, so stay tuned for another goofy entry with comedy, acerbic commentary, and general laughter as we watch this game in high-definition!

PRE-GAME STUFF

The WGN pregame show is coming to us from the empty United Center featuring season ticket holders skating in the background. I'm not what the point of having the two talking heads down at ice-level is if the Blackhawks aren't there.

The two on-air personalities just informed us all that this is the first time the Blackhawks will be at Scottrade Center since last year's playoffs. Amazing how geography works, ain't it?

They are showing James Neal's goals against the Blackhawks from the last game. Isn't this a Blackhawks-produced broadcast?

Apparently the name of the show is "Blackhawks Extra", and it's sponsored by Buddig lunch meats. At least we know the spread in the media room is good at the United Center.

So I'm just finding out that Blackhawks Extra is a thirteen-minute program. I've now watched eight commercials. And it's not done.

Chris Miller, vice-president of ticketing and fan relations, is on the program talking about the big day for the season ticket holders. Everyone is gushing over the fans at this point. I'm pretty sure those Stanley Cups are a big reason why a lot of these people ARE season-ticket holders.

This game is supposed to start at 7pm CT. I'm pretty sure this block of commercials will push that start time back to 10pm.

I can't believe that WGN or the Blackhawks need to sell this many commercials to have these two goofs on Blackhawks Extra.

Always knew Joel Quenneville was a MENSA participant: "If we wanna win this division, St. Louis is one of those teams we gotta go through."

Niklas Hjalmarsson: "There's a nice little rivalry building up there." Hey, Nik, these two teams have hated each other since the Blues were founded. Thanks for paying attention.

Patrick Kane: "When you get to the playoffs, it feels like you're battling for the Stanley Cup." Um... isn't that EXACTLY what it is?

Talking heads are yapping about how much the Blues are missing Vladimir Sobotka. In other news, no one has mentioned Sobotka since he signed in the KHL.

Another block of commericals. This should take us to puck drop. This half-hour program has about six minutes worth of programming.

They're showing the upcoming games. Ottawa, Anaheim, and Ottawa. That should be two wins and a possible loss for the Blackhawks. Ottawa should just save airfare and mail them the four points.

Gabriel Colon's story is being shown. Nothing wrong with this. This kid deserves a pile of happiness. Atta boy, Gabe! #75 for the win!

Steve Konroyd is giving his keys to the game. Konroyd was a fourth-liner all his life. If he's that good of an analyst, shouldn't HIS game have been better?

FIRST PERIOD

The broadcast starts with a recap of the playoff series, and how physical this game will be. Let's just get on with it, shall we?

Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk are introducing the game, and they start yapping about Andrew Shaw leading the 'Hawks in both goals and hits. Boys, let's see where he is at the quarter point of the season, alright?

Olczyk just called Marian Hossa "Big Hoss". Don't. Ever. Again.

The above rhymed with "boss" just so we're clear. Ugh.

Pat Foley wants a prime time Emmy with this game's call. This should be an interesting broadcast. He's into clichés and we haven't even dropped the puck.

The WGN Morning Show looks at the serial killer in Indiana, how to navigate your daughter's "princess years", and the hosts dress-up pumpkins. Really, Chicago? This is what you deal with on a daily basis?

Antti Raanta starts for Chicago while the Blues send Brian Elliott to the blue paint. If I'm looking at goalies alone, I gotta give this game to the Blues.

16 seconds in, and Jay Bouwmeester is in the box for hooking. Blackhawks to the power-play. They're 5-for-26 thus far this season. Jay Bouwmeester is a dirty hooker.

St. Louis is playing stupid hockey. Andrew Shaw threw a big hit behind the net on Barrett Jackman, and Jackman fell on Shaw and held him down. Two of St. Louis' better defencemen in the box - one for being a hooker and the other for smothering.

Chicago scores! Hossa to Kane to Sharp, and it's quickly in the back of the net. 1-0 CHICAGO!

Joannette and Hebert - The French Connection - are your referees. My boy, Ryan Galloway, is working one of the lines. Atta boy, Ryan!

Blackhawks working the puck in all sorts of directions on the power-play. That's puck movement, kids. Watch and learn.

I totally forgot Kris Versteeg was playing back in Chicago. What the hell happened to his career? Oh, right... Florida.

I love how the Blues send everyone to the net like it's a gold rush when the puck is shot. I don't know how Raanta saw anything. There were eight players, three fans, an usher, and a hot dog vendor around his crease.

Maxim Lapierre is still playing with St. Louis? Are we sure he's not still on a professional tryout contract?

Vladimir Tarasenko: fantastic hands, but makes three moves too many. He looks like a young Alex Mogilny. Just needs to shoot like Mogilny.

Actually, with all those moves resulting in no shots, he reminds me more of a young Alexei Zhamnov. SHOOT THE DAMNED PUCK!

In saying that, Zhamnov is one of two Jets to score five goals in one game. When he shot the puck, he was dynamite. When he didn't, he was Yashin. ZING!

Trevor Van Riemsdyk called for being a hooker. Two for putting his stick where it shouldn't be. Power-play for the Blues.

Does anyone feel that Alex Steen's season last year was an aberration in a two-way forward's career? I can't see him scoring 20, let alone 30, this season. Like the elder Steen, he's a serviceable forward, not a scoring whiz.

How many gold medalists are involved in this game? Don't forget Kevin Dineen as a coach of the Canadian women's team!

Daniel Carcillo has been spotted. He just skated off 40 seconds of his nightly four minutes of ice-time. Well done, CarBomb.

St. Louis scores! I have no idea how that got under Raanta, but Jaden Schwartz just shuffleboarded that puck into the net. 1-1 TIE GAME.

Ever since Schwartz switched to #17, he's played a lot more like his sister. And that's not an insult in any means. RIP Mandi.

King Leonidas just forced the Persian army off the cliffs. It's gonna get bloodier.

Apparently the puck DID cross the line in St. Louis.

THIRD PERIOD

Blackhawks and Blues are both playing cautiously to start this period.

Chicago scores! Sharp feeds Versteeg after three defencemen follow Richards and Sharp to the left side, and Versteeg buries it. 3-2 ST. LOUIS!

Looked like the Jets' defensive scheme that the Blues were using on that last play.

Despite Hjalmarsson being on for all three St. Louis goals, he's still so defensively sound. Great play on Tarasenko there.

This has nothing to do with this game, but prayers go out to Huntsville Havoc player Justin Cseter of the SPHL. He was cut by a skate tonight and was down on the ice for a while. Lots of blood was on the ice, but Cseter waved as he was carted off by stretcher. Here's hoping he pulls through and is back soon. The Huntsville-Peoria game will be postponed because of the injury.

Blackhawks are moving the puck well. This could bode well for them.

Steve Ott just trucked over Brad Richards. Richards seems to be ok. Or thinks he's in Dallas as part of the Stars again.

David Backes with a gorgeous centering pass to Brandon Saad. In front of Brian Elliott. I think Hitchcock is about to have an aneurysm.

Lots of cheating happening in the face-offs now. Both teams looking for an advantage.

Steve Ott is a moron. He's a veteran. He knows the retaliation will always get called. Two for trying to hack Versteeg's leg off, and the 'Hawks have a chance to tie on the power-play.

Blues killed the penalty that was almost exclusively played in their zone. Great kill!

We're under five minutes. Blackhawks are still pushing. Blues are bending, but have yet to break. This should be a good finish.

Great one-timer by Versteeg is handled by Elliott with traffic in front. There's 3:22 left.

Both teams are giving it everything they have. This is why the Central Division rocks!

Oshie and Keith just ran into each other, and Keith got the worst. He's back up, though.

Raanta is on the bench. Five forwards and Keith for the 'Hawks with 59.4 remaining.

Kevin Dineen drawing up a play on the whiteboard. Think it's the same play he called in Sochi with the Canadian women's team?

All sorts of pressure from the 'Hawks, and the Blues ice it with about three seconds to play. One last chance for the Blackhawks with the offensive zone face-off.

The horn sounds, and the Blues survive! A 3-2 win for St. Louis!

This is the second game on WGN that I've watched where the Blackhawks have lost. I'm now calling it the WGN Curse.

That was a solid game. Good end-to-end action. Tomorrow, I may live-blog the Colorado-Winnipeg game. I have lots of Patrick Roy material to use, and the Avalanche get behind, we could have lots of faces I can post from Roy. In any case, St. Louis wins tonight, and the Blackhawks find themselves on a bit of a losing streak.

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